Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI) Copyright: 2009 Honolulu Star-Bulletin Contact: http://starbulletin.com/forms/letterform.html Website: http://www.starbulletin.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/196 Author: Pat Kelly SCHOOL WOES GO BEYOND MONEY Regarding the recently proposed educational budget cuts, Hawaii schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto tells us, "Every parent ought to be concerned." Damn right I'm concerned and have been for quite some time. I'm concerned why Hawaii statistically continues to perform so poorly while spending enormous amounts of dollars per student compared with most states. I'm concerned because we have the only centralized school district left in the country. I'm concerned the teachers union doesn't want to be drug-tested and there is resistance to bringing in drug-sniffing dogs on campuses. I'm concerned because our tolerance in Hawaii leaves us with the same schools superintendent year after year despite an abysmal track record that has led us down a path of educational ruin. Yes, every parent ought to be concerned! Pat Kelly Honolulu - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake